Cinematographic machine



- July" 22 1924. v

W. B. WESCOTT CINEMATOGRAPHIC MACHINE' Original Filed Sept. 11, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 nlwlllil n F y g x 4 9 M m July 22 .1924. 1,502,077

w. B. WESCOTT- CINEMATOGRAPHiC MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 11, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 the county of Norfolk and State of Patented July 22, 1924.

UNITED- STATES 1,502,077 PATENT onuca.

WILLIAM BUBiTON WESCOTT, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB, BY IESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO TECHNICOLOB MOTION PICTURE CORPORATION, OF BOS- TON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CINEKATOGRAIPHIC MACHINE.

Original application filed September 11, 1916, Serial No. 119,377. Divided and this application filed April 25, 1921. Serial No. 464,205.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BURTON Wnsco'r'r, citizen of the the United States of America, and resident of Wellesle in ssachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cinematographic Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to optical apparatus, and more particularly to a motion picture camera adapted to take a plurality of simultaneous pictures of the same scene from the same point of view, this being a division of my prior application Serial No. 119,377, filed September 11, 1916 (patent No. 1,383,357, granted July 5, 1921.).

The principal object of the present inventionis to provide means whereby parts of the optical system of a camera or .the like may be supported upon the cover (or other portion of the apparatus movable relatively to the fixed portion) inaccurate alinement with the optical path or paths within the camera or the like. Otherobjects are to support different parts of tlre optical system upon different portions of the apparatus movable relatively to each other and to maintain the parts in exact relationship relatively to each other in use. Further objects are so to'support the different parts that they are normally held in close proximit and at the same time are readily accessi le.

Other objects attained by m invention "'will be apparent from the to lowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the center of a camera embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the cover, parts being omitted.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the film gate taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of, the film gate taken on line l d of Fig. 1.

Fi re 5 is a horizontal section through the ii rward portion of the camera. showing the optical elements in elevation;

Figure 6'is an elevation of the rear of the cover; and

Figure 7 is a section of the cover locking I a box B of ordinary construction having a cover C pivoted to the top of the box to swing upwardly. The box is divided into two compartments by the partition P, which carries most of the camera mechanism on its front and rear sides. Members 1 are secured to the front of the partition and cooperate with slotted bayonet catches 2 mounted on the inside of the cover, as shown: in elevation in Fig. 6. The upper and lower pairs of bayonet members 2, respectively, are connected together by members 3 provided with teeth 4 forming a rack cooperating with the pinion 5 which is controlled by a handle 6 on the outside of the cover. As shown in Fig. 7, the members 1 rojecting from the front of the partition I are provided with heads 7 tapered on the rear side to engage with the inclined faces of the bayonet members 2 whereby the cover may be securely and accurately locked in position relative to the camera box, thus positioning the lenses carried by the cover in accurate alinement with the film gate openings. Members 8 secured to thecover by means of screws 9 are provided to form guides for the reciprocating rack members 3. The box B is provided with a tongue 11 extending around the front edge which cooperates with a V groove 12 on the cover to form a light tight connection between the box and the cover.

As shown in Fig. 2, the hinge mechanism H for pivotally connecting the cover C with the box Bcomprises slots 25 in the hinge member 26' cooperating with screws 27' threaded into plate 28', which, in turn, is screwed to the box B. The screws'27 have shoulders contacting with plate 28' whereby the heads ofthe screws may be so positioned as to permit the hinge member 26' to slide freely thereunder. When the cover C is locked into position with relation to the box B' by the locking means above described.- the pin and slot connection permits the cover to move bodily to or from the box. Thus, inasmuch as the cover may be accurately positioned and rigidly maintained in position by the locking means alone, the hinges need not be made with a great degree of precision. Furthermore, when the box and co-ver are made of wood, shrinkage and expansion of these parts are likely to occur and the pin and slot connection provides for such contingency. Cushioning mechanism S, as shown in Fig. 21, may be provided to prevent the cover from being too quickly closed, as for example, from being violently closed by gravity. Suitable mechanism for this purpose comprises members 13 and 14 respectively secured to the cover and box and having pivoted thereto arms 15 and 16 which are pivoted together at 17, the pivotal connection 17 being surrounded by a coil spring 18 cooperating with the arms 15 and 16. v

The film feeding mechanism shown in my prior application above referred to forms no part of the present invention and is, therefore, not described -in detail herein, this mechanism forming the subject matter of copending application Serial No. 464,204 filed on even date herewith.

The film-gate mechanism comprises a filmgate FG and a film-gate cover GC hinged to swing outwardly on pivots 81. Rollers 87 are mounted on the upper end of the film-gate cover to extend over the film-gate passage a slight distance to the rear of the forward face thereof and to engage the margins of the forward side of the film as it enters the film-gate. A pre'sserfoot 101 is mounted on the lower end of the filmgate cover to engage the forward side of the film along each margin merger and to urge the film. against the rearward side of the film passage. The pre'sser foot 101 is urged toward the rearward side of film-gate passage by means of springs 102 mounted upon the cross-piece 103 carried by the filmgate cover and bearing at their ends against the presser foot. A thumb-screw 104 passes through an opening in thecross-piece 103, and is threaded into an opening in the presser foot, so that"tlfe movement of the foot toward the rear face of the film-gate passage, due to the pressure of the-springs, may be limited.

As above stated, the camera herein disclosed is of the multiplex type. and is provided with light-dividing means LD mounted on the film gate cover in alinement with the main lens opening in the cover to divide the beam of light issuing from the camera lens into two similar beams and to project these two beams through openings 91 and 92 in the film gate cover to separate picture spaces on the film. The light-dividing means preferably "comprises a plurality of prisms P P P and 1, (Fig.1) secured within the casing 67 by means of bolts 68 and a light-dividing grid G positioned between prisms P and P for transmitting part of the light incident thereto and for reflecting the part of "the incident 1i ht. The prisms have reflecting surfaces for projecting the. divided beam through the film gate apertures 91 and 92, and the prisms are so disposed that the paths for the two divided parts of the beam through the prisms are equal in length.

Presser members 94 and 95 are mounted directly behind the film-gate cover openings 91 and 92 to hold the film against the forward side of the film passage while being exposed. The front face of each of the presser members has a. recess substantially coextensive with the correspondin picture aperture having a marginal raise portion 93 for engagement with the portion of the film surrounding the picture portion. As shown in Fig. 4, the presser member 94 is urged forwardly by means of springs 99 mounted on either side of the member; The lowerpresser member 95, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is arranged to beurged forwardly by a coiled compression spring 96 surrounding the pin 98 which is threaded into the presser member, and a housing 97 is mounted on the rear of the film-gate to enclose the compression spring and to form a rear bearing surface therefor. 7

Owing to the fact thatthe rollers 87 at the top of the film-gate and presser foot 101 at the bottom of the film-gate are mounted to extend to the rear of the forward face of the film passage, the sensitized coating on the forward side of the film is prevented fromQ-contacting with the passage during movement of the film. While the presser members 94 and 95 maintain the film in contact with the front of the passage, during periods of film rest, the forces exerted on the presser members by springs 96 and 99 are comparatively small, and the tension produced in the portion of the film in the film-gate passage as the film is rapidly advanced is sufiicient to overcome the force of the presser member springs whereby the film is held against the forward side of the film gate passage substantially only during the periods of film rest,

The shutter mechanism comprising shutters 121 and 122 is mounted on the rear face of the cover C as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Shutter 121is mounted on a shaft 8,, and shutter 122 is mounted on a shaft S which surrounds and is adapted to rotate upon the shaft S the shaft S being driven by shaft 5.. An automatic connecting device is provided 'between shafts S, and S, comprising a head 132 mounted to slide longitudinally on the shaft S and provided with a hole shown in Fig. 5. When the cover is closed the pin 134 engages the head 132, in the event that the pin does not register with the hole 133 therein, and forces the head backwardly against the pressure of the spring 136 until the shaft S is caused to rotate, at which time the head will spring into normal positio 1 The bevel gear 141 mounted on the end of shafts cooperates with a bevel gear 142 mounted on the inside face of the cover, the latter also cooperating with bevel gear 143 secured to the shaft S Thus, when the shaft S is rotated in one direction, the

shutter 121 rotates therewith in the same direction, and the shutter'122 mounted on shaft S is driven inthe opposite direction by means of the bevel gears. The two shutters rotating in opposite directions shutter the lens aperture simultaneously from opposite sides, so that the aperture is' closed when the two shutters begin to overlap'after each has passed half way across the lens opening. Thus, the aperture is either closed or opened in one-half the time required for the operation single rotating shutter. A bearing for shaft S. is carried by brackets 144 secured to the rear face of the cover, and a lighttight casing 145 is providedpver the rear of the shutter mechanism having an opening 146 therein to allow the-passage of light from the lens to the film gates.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention a single lens is employed-at times as the main image forming means and at other times as an auxiliary image forming means for the finder mechanism. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the optical paths of the camera and the finder have respective parallel portions arranged adjacent to' each other and at these adjacent portions 1 preferably mount the camera lens so that it can be rotated into alinement either with the light dividing means LD comprising a part of the mainoptical path or with the totally reflecting prism P comprisin means to reflect light to the finder F. uitable means for changing the position of the lens comprises a turret T rotatably mounted in bearing 182 having light-tight packing 183. The turret has a threaded opening 184 to receive the lens and a partition 185 on the rear central portion thereof cooperating with a member 186 to prevent light from passing between the main -chamber 187 and the auxiliary chamber 188 when the turret is in either operative position, the partition 185 occupying substantially the positionshown in the drawings when the lens is in alinement with either of the optical paths. A thumb screw 189 may be provided to lock the turret in either of its operative positions, and ribs 190 are preferably provided on the witl the ordinary 464,206 filed on even date herewith.

I claim:

' 1. Optical apparatus comprising a film gate, a film gate cover having a plurality of spaced exposure apertures therein, light dividing means mounted on said cover to divide a. beam of light into a plurality of similar beams and means to project the divided parts of the beam through said apertures respectively.

2. Optical apparatus comprising a camera box, a film gate mounted therein, a film gate cover having a plurality of exposure apertures therein, a cover for said box, means on said cover for admitting a beam of light, and means mounted on said film gate cover in alineinent with said first means for dividing the beam of light into a plurality of similar beams and projecting the divided parts of the beam through said apertures.

3. Optical apparatus comprising a housing carrying a portion of the optical system, a cover for said housing carrying another portion of the optical system, means on said housing and covercooperating with each other when the cover is closed for positioning said housing and cover both with relation to their distance apart and with relation to the alineme-nt of said portions of the'optical system, and means cooperating with said positioning means for locking said cover member in position.

4. 'Optical apparatus comprising a housing carrying a portion of the optical system, a cover for said housing carrying another portion of the optical system, means on said housing and cover cooperating with each other when the cover is closed for positioning said housing and cover both with relation to their distance apart and with relation to the alinement of said portions of the optical system, said positioning meanson said housing and cover respectlvely having cooperating tapered surfaces for locking operating with said positioning means for locking said cover in position. 6. Optical apparatus comprisin a housing carrying a portion of the optics. system, a

cover for said housing carrying another portion of the optical system, means on said housing and cover cooperating with each other when the cover is closed for positioning said housing and cover both with relation to their distance apart and with relation to the alinement of said portions of the optical system, said positioning means on said housing having a tapered surface, means on the inside of said cover havin a tapered surface cooperating with said first tapered surface for locking said cover in position, and means on the outside of said cover for actuating said last means.

7. Optical apparatus comprising a housing carrying a portion of the optical system, a cover for said housing carrying another portion of the optical system, meanson said housing and cover cooperating with each other when the cover isclosed for positioning said housing and cover both with relation to their'distance apart and with relation to the alinement of said portions of the optical system, a rack and pinion for actuating said last means, and means on the outside of said cover for actuating said rack and pinion.

8. Optical apparatus comprising a housing carrying a portion of the optical system, a

cover for said housing carrying another portion of the optical system, positioning means projecting from said housing, means on the end of said positioning means having a front bearingsurface and a rear tapered surface and means on said cover cooperating with said last means when the cover is closed to I lock said housing and cover both with relation to their distance apart: and with relation to the alinement of saidportions of the optical system.

9. Optical apparatus comprising a film gate and a film gate cover spaced therefrom to provide a chamber, said cover having a plurality of spaced exposure, apertures therein and light dividing means carried by the cover and disposed Within the chamber to divide a beam of light into a plurality of similar beams, and means to project the divided parts of the beam through said apertures respectively.

10. Optical apparatus comprising a housing carrying a portiomof the optical system,

.a cover for said housing carrying another portion of the'optical system, means hingedly connecting the housing and cover for a relative pivotal and for relative sliding movement, and interfitting means on the cover and housing for securing the parts against both pivotal and slidingmovement.

11. Optical apparatus comprising a housing carrying a portion of the optical system,

a cover for said housing carrying another portion of the optical system,'and means on said housing and cover cooperating with each other when the cover is closed for positioning said housing and cover both with relation to their distance apart and with relation to the alignment of said parts of the optical system, said means including connecting members secured to one of the parts and formed with heads for engagement with the other of the parts, and locking devices carried by the latter part for 'interfitting faces, locking members on the other of the parts having tapered head engagingwportions, and means for relatively shifting the parts to produce a wedging engagement between the'tapered surfaces'of the heads and locking members. a

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 18th day of April, 1921.

WILLIAM BURTON WESCOT I'A 

